Richard Hell
"Time"
(Matador)

This newly issued 2-disc set offers up a host of gems for the Richard Hell fanatic. As a member of the seminal punks Heartbreakers and Voidoids, Richard Hell was a key figure in the CBGBs punk era, releasing the essential document "Blank Generation" in 1977. "Time" traces the path there, and the live translation of the songs.

The first disc offers up the infamous RIP cassette in its entirety, a lo-fi document which sounds fresh even today. It contains early versions of the "Blank Generation" classic "Love Comes in Spurts" and is augmented by 3 demos: "Chinese Rocks", and "Time" and "Funhunt" circa the 1979 Voidoids era. For those who love lo-fidelity rock, this will not disappoint in the least. It is up there with "Bee Thousand" and early Pavement in terms of its inventiveness.

Although the first disc is great fun to listen to, the second disc featuring a peak-era Voidoids performance taken from the London Music Machine in 1977 and the 4 tracks from punk's birthplace, CBGB's (1978) are the real goldmine for longtime Hell fans. While the sound quality of the performance leaves a lot to be desired, this is the only legitimate document of the band at the height of their powers, with Robert Quine and Ivan Julian's guitars still shredding their way through the tape hiss. Throw in a cameo from Elvis Costello (who was also at the top of his game) and the result is a memorable performance well worth owning for the Voivoid fanatic.

Additionally, "Time" contains extraordinary liner notes written by Mr. Hell himself, describing his feelings on touring with the Clash without having a record to support. The booklet contains lengthy commentary and some nice vintage photos and posters from the late 70s.

If you are looking for an introduction to the band, I would suggest picking up "Blank Generation" and going from there. However, for those looking to whet their appetite with more of Hell and co., "Time" is a great place to go from there.

-Karthik